City Heat (1984)

Set in 1933 Kansas, a private detective (Burt Reynolds) tracks the killer of his partner (Richard Roundtree) while a police Lieutenant (Clint Eastwood) attempts to keep the lid on the rivalry of the warring local mobsters. Written by Blake Edwards (a pseudonym is used for his screenplay credit) and directed by Richard Benjamin (THE MONEY PIT). Blake Edwards was the original director but Eastwood didn't like the direction the movie was taking under Edwards' helm so he was replaced by Richard Benjamin. Reynolds (who worked with Edwards the year before in THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN) didn't like the finished product. It's clear that the film went in the direction Eastwood wanted and Benjamin was basically a traffic cop here. Each actor doesn't stray far from their  personas. Eastwood does his squinty and stoic Dirty Harry bit only this time transferred to the 1930s and Reynolds tries to get by on his usual wisecracking wise guy act. The original female leads, Marsha Mason and Clio Goldsmith, were replaced by Jane Alexander and Madeline Kahn. As to the movie itself, considering the potent star power it's surprisingly lackluster. The tone of the film fluctuates from broad comedy to shocking moments of violence as if the film makers couldn't decide what direction they wanted the movie to go in. No one involved comes out looking good. With Rip Torn, Irene Cara, Tony Lo Bianco and in her final film role, Joan Shawlee.